Preserving the Buddhadharma for Future Generations

FPMT Endowment Funds were established in order to provide the resources necessary to actualize the vision of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the mission of the organization continuously and without interruption for centuries to come.

Photo by Ina Van Delden, courtesy of LYWA.

FPMT’s core mission is to provide the resources for unparalleled opportunities to listen, reflect, meditate, practice and actualize the unmistaken teachings of the Buddha and based on that experience enabling the Dharma to spread to sentient beings.

These resources include the International Office and all of its many Dharma activities from vast educational programs to support for a network of more than 130+ centers, projects, services and study groups located throughout the continents of Asia, Australia, Europe, North and Latin America.

FPMT also seeks to preserve the Mahayana lineage through the Charitable Projects that it supports.

Why We Need an Endowment: Steadiness in Transition

The Foundation has overcome many challenges and our history is something to contemplate and deeply rejoice about.

Photo by Edward Sczudlo.

FPMT’s late spiritual director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche (1945-2023), had a truly immeasurable impact on where we stand as an organization today. People met Rinpoche and often their lives were changed forever. They got a glimpse of the value of compassion, or tasted the happiness of the Dharma and want to support the Foundation wholeheartedly. So many are devoted and inspired by Rinpoche’s example and in effect we have seen an immense pouring of generosity from students everywhere. We have seen steady growth during the past five decades.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche charged the FPMT Board of Directors with the responsibility for providing stewardship for the organization and continuing the work of implementing his Vast Visions during the years ahead. The FPMT Endowment Funds will offer the support and assurance we need during these transitions and for every transition to come as we carry on into the next generation of Dharma activity and to carry on the work of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche during the succeeding decades and centuries that lie ahead for the organization.

Advantages of an Endowed Gift

An endowed gift is one of the best forms of financial giving. Because it will be carefully invested to generate income and appreciation in value of the principle, it is a gift that can provide for many generations.

As a dependable source of funding, gifts to the endowments will have a major impact on the performance and capabilities of the organization. This stability allows freedom for us to operate and grow without the challenges of an insecure budget, or costly interruptions like resource and staffing cuts.

With the confidence and continuity that comes from endowment revenue, we can build a broadened vision and our work will creatively mature.

How the Endowments Work

Currently, we have two FPMT Endowment funds which we are actively fundraising for and aiming to grow as follows.

1. An unrestricted endowment called the FPMT Preservation Endowment Fund which will enable the Board of Directors of FPMT to use the income generated from the endowment where most needed to further the mission of the organization. The principal of unrestricted gifts to this Endowment will be maintained and preserved in the endowment and the appreciation and income will be available for general Foundation purposes. This endowment will allow the Foundation the most flexibility in its financial planning. Unrestricted gifts to the Endowment may also be designated, at the request of a donor, as a Quasi Endowment gift which empowers the Board of Directors with discretion, when circumstances warrant, to use not only the income and appreciation, but also the principal to advance the mission of the organization.

2. A restricted endowment called the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Social Services Endowment Fund which will be used solely for the purpose of supporting ongoing grant commitments for social services grants from the Social Services Funds. The principal of this restricted endowment will be maintained and preserved in the endowment and only the appreciation and income will be available for social service fund grants.

How the Endowments are Governed

The FPMT Endowments are governed at all times by the Board of Directors of FPMT and an Endowment Committee established by the Board of Directors. Funds set aside for Endowments are carefully managed in order to preserve principal and to achieve growth and income to further the mission of the organization as approved by the Board of Directors.

The Endowments has two primary objectives for its investment of endowment assets:

• To generate sufficient return to meet the programmatic needs endowment funds were established to support; and
• To achieve “real” growth of the endowment for future needs.

Vast Generosity: Making a Gift

Photo by Harald Weichhart.

FPMT’s incredible amount of compassionate activity is possible through the blessings and work of our teachers, the devotion and service of thousands of students and friends, and the generosity of donors worldwide. Together as an organization we are benefiting so, so many. Whatever you are able to give, is a great act of merit and a great service to FPMT’s mission and activities for the coming years.

In addition to monetary gifts, the FPMT Endowments may also be supported with gifts of stocks, bonds, the proceeds of life insurance policies, real estate and other types of assets. Gifts to the Endowments are tax deductible in the U.S. To get started on making your endowment contribution, please contact FPMT Donor Services.

You may also make an online contribution today through these forms below:

Donate to the FPMT Preservation Endowment Fund    Donate to the Lama Zopa Rinpoche Social Services Endowment

For more information about the FPMT Endowments or for any assistance, please please contact us.

Thank you for being a part of our compassionate work.

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